Congress Super Sale Provides Unique Opportunities For Consignors, Buyers, and the Next Great Prospect

At the 2018 Congress, Aaron Moses rode 2017 sale graduate, Rasscal Flats, to win the Open Western Pleasure Sale Stakes and a check for $11,914.

By: Brittany Bevis

Known as the premier horse sale in the country, the Congress Super Sale is one of the crowning jewels of the show each year, drawing eager horse buyers in search of the next great prospect. This year’s sale will take place at 9:30 am on October 19th and will consist of three sessions: the Western Pleasure Yearling Stakes Session, Hunter Under Saddle Yearling Stakes Session, and Super Sale Session.

What many people may not know is that the “Congress” Sale was actually in existence before the Congress Show held its inaugural event. “We have been doing the auction since 2009,” says Mike Jennings of Pro Horse Services. “Prior to that, the Folck family put on the sale. Actually, Blair Folk was one of the first people to put the first Congress on. In all actuality, the first Congress was just putting the show with the already existing horse sale. A lot of people don’t realize that. It’s an important aspect of why the sale has been such an important part of the show each year.”

Think the Congress Super Sale is just for high dollar horses? Think again. “I think this sale not only adds value to yearlings, but the Congress, in general, is just a great marketplace for those yearling that may be in more of the moderate price range. Sure, there are the high dollar yearlings, but the additional benefit of selling at the Congress is that there are so many people from every possible segment of the horse industry.”

One of the reasons John Boxell has been participating in the sale for the past 25 years is because it’s a one-stop shop and provides the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. “We’ve been putting horses in the Congress Sale for 25 years. We’ve always done two sales- the Congress Sale and the World Show Sale. We’ve done it the last several years since they’ve created the sale futurity classes, because we think it adds marketability to the yearlings. We raise so many foals that you have to either use the Internet or another method to promote them, and we don’t get the farm traffic we used to. This is a good marketing program.”

Putting his money where his mouth is, John has seven horses enrolled in the sale this year. Fellow consignor, Amy Gumz, is bringing five yearlings to the sale.

“Especially with the new sale stakes incentive, we’ve been taking horses since the program started,” she says. “I do believe it gives these yearlings added value. We’ve always been strong proponents of the Congress Sale, mostly because it’s such a great marketplace. People go to the Congress from all different locations, both national and international. There are people looking for horses of all different levels and qualities, so there are opportunities for all different horses.”

The Western Pleasure Yearling Sale Stakes Session is among the most popular, because yearlings that sell through the sale are eligible for added money in a speciality class at the show the following year. For example, the 2019 Sale Stakes class purse is $89,500, which includes $10,000 for limited riders, added by OQHA. There will be open and non-pro divisions.

The next session is a new addition to the sale: the Hunter Under Saddle Yearling Sale Stakes Session. The 2019 Sale Stakes class purse is $17,500 with $1,500 for limited riders, sponsored by sponsorship by Mike and Stephanie Jennings of Professional Horse Services, LLC. Finally, there is the Super Session that will consist of show horses, prospects, and breeding stock.

At the 2018 Congress, Mallory Menard rode 2017 sale graduate, Say Somethin, to win the Non Pro Western Pleasure Sale Stakes and a check for $4,061.

The reason for the creation of the new Hunter Under Saddle Yearling Session was due to popular demand. “Some people started asking for a Hunt Seat specific session,” he says. “Also, it had to do with the fact that Vic Clark and his wife, Libby, had a background in Hunter Under Saddle. Also, our family had owned The Last Captive, and my wife, Stephanie, had shown in many Hunter Under Saddle futurities. We thought this part of the market could use an extra boost and an added incentive. It was the next logical progression for the sale.”

If the 2018 Super Sale is any indication, the high sellers will go for a pretty penny this year as well. The high seller of the 2018 Western Pleasure Yearling Stakes session was also the high seller of the entire auction at $130,000. The horse was How Do U Figer, a 2017 mare by How Bout This Cowboy and out of Go Figer. He was sold to Wheeler and Jimmy Nichols by Kathie Kennedy, who was acting as agent for Stanley and Susan Scott. The average price of yearlings in that session was $10,988 with a gross of $1,296,700.

The first ever Hunter Under Saddle Yearling Stakes Session last year saw a high seller go for $35,000. The horse was Unas Best Asset, a 2017 stallion by Allocate Your Assets and out of Arohras Punchuna. He was purchased by Woody Wright from Amanda Rohr. The average price for this session was $9,930.

The high seller for the Super Session in 2018 was $29,00, which was the price of Slim Shadyy, a 2016 stallion by Batt Man and out of I Love To Win. He sold to Lara N. Simmons from consignor, Jason Ducharme. This session saw an average price of $6,261.

Still wondering if the Super Sale is worth the time and effort? Consider the Leading Consignor Award winner from 2018- Kennedy Performance Horses, with $130,000 in gross sales. Kathie Kennedy keeps coming back to the Congress Sale year after year because of the opportunity it offers to consignors.

“These yearlings are able to come back as 2-year-olds in the Open and Non Pro in both the Western Pleasure and also the Hunter Under Saddle,” she says. “The Congress Sale has the most diverse audience than any other sale. It brings buyers in from all over the US, Canada, and Europe. Because of the size of this show, the Super Sale will bring more potential buyers to the arena and makes for a really good environment for the industry. The crowd is big and has a good boost to the industry.”

How does riding sale graduates pay off for owners and trainers? At the 2018 Congress, Aaron Moses rode 2017 sale graduate, Rasscal Flats, to win a check for $11,914 for Dr. Gail Mason and Jeff Temple. The highest placing non-pro exhibitor, Mallory Menard, rode Say Somethin to win $4,061.

If you still can’t decide, be sure to watch graduates from the 2018 sale compete in the Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle Sale Stakes at the show this year. The Hunter Under Saddle class will take place Thursday, October 17th, and the Western Pleasure class will take place on Friday, October 18th, the day prior to the sale. Surely watching the winning horses and riders walk out of the arena with huge checks in hand will help to make up your mind.

Click on the links below for more important details about the 2019 Congress Super Sale.

Sale Catalog

Sale Schedule

Thursday, October 17, 2019- noon- Horses will be available for inspection

Friday, October 18th, 2019- noon- 12:00 pm Coughlin Auto Sale Preview

Saturday, October 19, 2019- 9:30 am Congress Super Sale

Office Hours

Congress Hall Booth:

• October 4 – 23, 2019 – 12 noon to 7:00 p.m.

Sale Office in Lausche Building:

• Thursday, October 17, 2019 – 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, October 18, 2019 – 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 19, 2019 – 8:00 a.m. to one hour after sale ends.
• Sunday, October 20, 2019 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sale Contacts

During the sale- 855-272-3905. There is no online bidding, but there is pre-approved phone bidding.

Sale viewing

The sale will be webcast live at ProHorseServices.com.